Feb 28, 2012

MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- A Philippine men's magazine has apologized and pulled its cover after critics described it as racist.

FHM Philippines said Monday it has decided to change the cover of its March issue which showed a fair-skinned actress, Bela Padilla, in a hot pink bikini flanked by dark-skinned women in black bikinis. The caption said, "Bela Padilla stepping out of the shadows."

Padilla, a soap opera star, has a Filipino mother and a British father.

The magazine said after uploading the issue on its Facebook page it received a slew of complaints that the cover was racist.

FHM apologized and said it will use a different cover when the magazine hits newsstands in March.